Monday, April 13, 2009

They've finally addressed it, but it's not adequate. I'm with Larry Kramer and others who find the whole thing suspect. A real bad taste in my mouth, though I will give them the benefit of the doubt for now. But, as Larry says, we have to watch them.

First they told author Mark Probst that it was a new policy of delisting "adult" titles and erotica, even though our books are nothing of the kind. Then they said it was a "glitch," then we heard someone hacked the site (they have refuted this). And now they say it was some sort of cataloging error. It's all really weird, and perhaps the truth will out itself in time.

My theory: Some zealot inside Amazon made the decision without consent of others and may even be fired, or quietly disappeared. This happened at Ford, when they pulled all their ads in gay publications and then we learned someone there had met with religious conservatives and made promises. But the CEO later came in and undid it all, seeming to contradict his own employee. It's just a hunch, based on nothing but speculation, yes. And I may be completely wrong, or we'll never know.

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